AACN News—June 2007—Chapters

Vol. 24, No. 6, JUNE 2007

Put Your Chapter in the Circle of Excellence

AACN Circle of Excellence Awards for chapters applaud the accomplishments of chapters in helping to bring the association’s mission, vision and standards-setting expertise to hospitals, nursing schools and local communities.

The nominating process for these awards for 2008 opened March 15. The deadline to submit nominations is July 15, 2007. The exception is the President’s Award for Chapters, for which the deadline is March 1, 2008.

Unless otherwise noted, chapters selected for these awards receive an honorarium of $1,000 each. All receive a personalized plaque, are announced in AACN News and on the AACN Web site, and are recognized at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition.

Following are brief descriptions about the chapter awards. Details are described in the Circle of Excellence Awards Guide, available online at www.aacn.org > Awards, Grants & Scholarships.

Excellence in Chapter Collaboration AwardRecognizes chapters that exemplify collaboration in any aspect of their operations while actively supporting AACN’s mission, vision and values. Chapter collaboration must represent the efforts of at least two entities, one the chapter and the other an outside group such as a hospital, college or university, other nursing organization, or community. Successful applicants will demonstrate how chapter collaboration resulted in desirable outcomes that were mutually beneficial.

Sharon Connor Excellence in ChapterLeadership Development AwardRecognizes excellence in chapter leadership development and succession planning while actively supporting AACN’s mission, vision and values. Successful candidates will demonstrate how the chapter has implemented an effective chapter leadership structure that provides guidance, strategic planning and continuity for the chapter. They will also demonstrate how programs resulted in desirable outcomes.

Outstanding Chapter CommunityEducation and Public Service AwardRecognizes chapters that have made an outstanding public service contribution in their local communities through community education and involvement while actively supporting AACN’s mission, vision and values. Successful applicants will describe how their chapter has effectively communicated and disseminated knowledge about, and promoted AACN and the critical care nursing profession, to the local community.

Outstanding ChapterEducational Program AwardRecognizes chapters that have done an outstanding job in providing quality educational programming to their members and other constituents while actively supporting AACN’s mission, vision and values. Successful applicants will demonstrate how chapter educational programming met the educational standards of education assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation for one or more programs in the past year.

President’s Award for ChaptersRecognizes the chapter or chapters that best exemplify the theme of the AACN president. The theme of incoming 2007-08 President Dave Hanson, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNS, was announced at NTI 2007 in Atlanta, Ga. Successful applicants will demonstrate how their chapters have exemplified the president’s theme throughout the year. Chapters will be evaluated on programs and activities that were completed from July 1 to date of submission. Up to $4,000 will be awarded to one or more chapters. Deadline to submit application materials is March 1, 2008.

What’s on Tap?

FloridaThe Coast-to-Coast Chapters will present “Waves of Wisdom” July 26 and 27 at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. For more information, contact Gene Martin at (727) 767-8644 or visit the conference Web site at www.aacnchapters.com/wow.htm.

GeorgiaThe Central Savannah River Area Chapter will present a CCRN review July 30 and 31 at the Belair Conference Center, Augusta. For more information, contact Madeline Moyer at (706) 829-3613; mmoyer@mail.mcg.edu.

IllinoisThe Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will present its “Member Recognition and Celebration Dinner” June 20 at the Meridan Banquet and Conference Center, Rolling Meadows. For more information, contact Joy Speciale at (630) 766-1596; nwcac@juno.com.

VirginiaThe Monticello Chapter will present “Summer Synergy: the Power of One” Aug. 10 at the Omni Hotel, Charlottesville. For more information, contact Kristi Kimpel at (434) 924-2288 or (434) 589-5917; kdk6n@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

New Features Added to Chapter Administration Database

Three features have been added to the chapter administration database to make updating and maintaining chapter member records much easier.The first feature is the addition of a new position code for those chapters that have a membership chairperson. In the past, only the four main chapter board members had access to the membership database. Thanks to the new position code, a membership chairperson can be added to the system and have access to log on to the database.

The second feature offers additional membership term choices for chapter members. In the past, chapters could only enter their members with a one-year membership term. Now they have the option for two- and three-year terms.

The third feature adds a new position code for honorary members. For example, chapters with lifetime members can list them in the database using a special position code.For additional information about the new database features, call Mitzi Inman at (800) 394-5995, ext. 365 or e-mail Mitzi.Inman@aacn.org.

Reaching Out With Support and Admiration

Dear Leaders of Hill City Chapter:On behalf of AACN Region 4, I would like to extend our support to the nurses who responded in Blacksburg, Va. to the massacred victims of Virginia Tech. Our support for the difficult and wonderful work that you do is sent with our great admiration. Please know that the acute and critical care nurses of the region and the nation are thinking of you at this difficult time.